Babysitters and babysitting

How old does a young person have to be to babysit?

Babysitters are usually teenagers who do not have formal training or qualifications in childcare and therefore they are not registered by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

Parents need to make an assessment as to whether the person is suitable, for example. mature enough, to look after a child.

There is no set age that a person needs to be in order to babysit, however the parent of the child is responsible for the welfare of that child until they become an adult (16 years). It is an offence to leave a child alone when doing so puts him or her at risk.

My son/daughter is interested in babysitting. Are there any courses they can do?

There are babysitting courses available in Hampshire. They are frequently run at further education establishments by the Red Cross. For further details please see their website: Red Cross Babysitting or contact your local college

Alternatively there is a company called Teen Transitions based in Eastleigh that provide training courses.

How can I find out about babysitters in my area?

We have childminders in Hampshire who are registered and inspected by the Ofsted to provide quality care, and work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and overnight.

Childminders charge from £3 an hour on average which is comparable to the fees that can be charged by a babysitter.